Timothy Busfield released from New Mexico jail; wife Melissa Gilbert 'very, very excited'

People reports that Timothy Busfield was released from a New Mexico jail on Tuesday, Jan. 20, while he awaits trial, and his civil attorney, Larry Stein, said the actor "feels wonderful" and that his wife, Melissa Gilbert, is "very, very excited" to reunite with him. Busfield appeared for a two-hour pretrial detention hearing earlier Tuesday, during which a judge ruled he would be released on his own recognizance and with conditions while he awaits trial.

Gilbert was in the courtroom with family and was seen crying and whispering, "Thank you, God." Her representative had issued a statement on Jan. 13 that said, "Melissa stands with and supports her husband," and on Jan. 16 she was one of 75 people who wrote a letter in support of opposing pretrial detention, concluding, "Please, please, take care of my sweet husband." A warrant for Busfield's arrest was issued on Jan.

9; he surrendered four days later and was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13) and one count of child abuse, with prosecutors alleging unlawful sexual conduct involving two 11-year-old boys.

Key Topics

Culture, Timothy Busfield, Melissa Gilbert, Larry Stein, Albuquerque Police Department, Metropolitan Detention Center